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LOT 1451
Western Asiatic Bronze Arrowhead Collection
19TH-6TH CENTURY B.C.
1 - 3 in. (176 grams total, 25-77 mm).
Including triangular, leaf-shaped, barbed, paddle-shaped with a flat, comparatively wide mid-rib, and others. [27]
ProvenanceEx London art market, 1980-1990s.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Cf. for similar arrow-points Gorelik, M., Weapons of Ancient East, IV millennium BC-IV century BC, Saint Petersburg, 2003, in Russian, (plate XLIII, nos.26-27, 92-93).
FootnotesSome of the represented arrowheads (paddle-shaped) were typical of the Old Babylonian Empire. The shoulders were pronounced and the arrowhead had a rectangular-section tapering tang. This simple form was popular throughout and such items are comparatively common finds in the Holy Land.
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AUCTIONS:
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Spanish Military Briquet Sabre
Dated 1902 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £156
Comprising: slightly swept single-edge blade with scooped point and ricasso; brass hilt with finger-guard, lobed quillon, ribbed grip; blade stamped 'Arta. Faba. de Toldo 1902'. 1.04 kg, 83.5 cm
From a private Tyneside collection, formed since the early 2000s. -
Greek Lead Slingshot
3rd-1st century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Biconical in profile with casting seam and reserved legend 'ΦIΛONOC = of Philon (name)'; scorpion on the other side. 32.8 grams, 30 mm
Acquired on the German art market before 2000. Private collection, Munich, Germany.
On these sling bullets the image of a scorpion could be understood to depict an action ‘sting like a scorpion’. The name of Filon can be connected with a military commander. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
Piriform in profile with domed mouth and impressed motifs to the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 400 grams, 10.5 cm
From an important specialist collection, London, UK, 1990s onwards. Accompanied by an academic paper by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato, dated 15 July 2019 and titled 'Eastern Roman Empire - Greek Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade (μεσαίον kακάβιον) 9th-11th century AD'.
Apart from the use of siphons or manual flame-throwers called cheirosiphona, special corps of Roman soldiers employed terracotta grenades, in the form of small jars, abundantly evidenced in archaeological excavations. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form.
